EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Brett Favre wanted more in his second start for the New York Jets.

The veteran quarterback went into the locker room at halftime Saturday night, hoping his night wasn't over. Coach Eric Mangini told him otherwise.

"I wasn't mad, but I just said I'd like to get a score," Favre said after the Jets' 10-7 win over the Giants.

Favre went 9-of-12 for 96 yards in his two quarters, and had a pretty touchdown pass negated by a penalty. Taking a crash course in learning the Jets' playbook since being acquired from Green Bay on Aug. 6, he has been mostly solid in his limited action this preseason.

"I think I'm fitting in better today, and I think that next week I'll feel the same way," Favre said. "I think the guys in that room would say they're getting a better feel for me and how I play. I felt more at ease in the huddle. I felt more at ease on the field.

"I felt more like myself."

And that's a good thing for the Jets. Favre, who said his arm "is in great shape," is 14-of-18 for 144 yards, a touchdown — last week to Dustin Keller — and no interceptions.

"I don't know how he feels," wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery said, "but it looks like he's getting more and more comfortable each and every day and every game."

While most teams usually rest their starters for their final preseason games, Favre said he'll talk to Mangini and lobby to play Thursday at Philadelphia.

"I'll present my side, I'll say that I'd love to play one series, two series," Favre said. "He may say that it's not worth it, and so be it."

Favre played in preseason finales when he was in Green Bay, using the extra time to get one last tuneup before the regular season.

"That was probably just me staying in (Mike) McCarthy's ear," Favre said. "I say, heck, if I'm going to practice, I want to play, at least a series."

Favre, who last faced the Giants in a loss in the NFC championship game in January, showed nice zip on most of his passes Saturday night and could've been in position for two scores if not for penalties.

"He did a good job," Mangini said. "We had two long passes that I thought were really good plays. They were set up nicely. It's just frustrating when you have those types of plays called back. It'll kill you."

The Jets were called for 12 penalties, 10 on offense, against the Giants.

"Really, it comes down to mentally being sound," Favre said. "You can run all the laps you want, but when the live bullets start flying, you just have to do your thing."

Favre received a standing ovation as he ran on the field with the first-team offense to start the Jets' opening drive. The cheers didn't last long as Justin Tuck beat new right tackle Damien Woody and sacked Favre on the second play for an 8-yard loss. New York was forced to punt two plays later.

On the next series, Favre's 29-yard pass to Brad Smith on fourth-and-1 was wiped out by an illegal shift penalty. Favre didn't see the play because he was plowed into the turf by Osi Umenyiora.

"I would prefer not to be hit, but that's OK," Favre said. "To sit here and say as the season gets under way that I won't get hit, that's crazy. I think our line is very good, but most of the teams we'll be playing against are good."

On the Jets' next possession, Favre scrambled to his right on second down and gained 8 yards before being run out of bounds by Chase Blackburn.

"I don't move like I used to," Favre said with a grin, "but I was able to use my feet to bail myself out a little bit."

The drive died a few plays later, but Favre got things going again on the Jets' next possession.

With the Jets starting on their 15, he hit Smith for 17 yards and Leon Washington for 10 yards two plays later. On third-and-11 from the Giants 49, Favre threw a perfect spiral down the right sideline to Cotchery, who zipped into the end zone for what appeared to be the first score of the game.

But Bubba Franks, Favre's former teammate in Green Bay, was called for illegal motion and the touchdown was wiped away. The Jets punted two plays later, and Favre came out one more time — to kneel the ball down before halftime.

"That's getting your feet wet," Favre said. "We didn't get any points, but neither did they. I tip my hat to our defense. I think our offense, we have a lot of things to clean up and we have to get better at some things we're trying to do. All in all, we played pretty darn good against a very good defense."